FORMER LAWMAKER Celso Lobregat has chosen Councilman BG Guingona over Councilman Mike Alavar to be his vice mayoralty bet in next year’s polls, but the ageing politician is yet to announce his congressional candidate for the 1st District.
The 73-year old Lobregat, who is running for mayor, announced this in a news conference at his residence on August 4. Alavar was absent at the press conference, although he phoned Lobregat and said he is supporting the “Team Colorao,” and would like to include his daughter in the group’s candidates for the City Council.
Last month, Lobregat chose Councilman Jerry Perez as his congressional bet for the 2nd District. Perez is a long-time ally of Lobregat and president of the local chapter of the Association of Barangay Captains.
Lobregat’s allies in the City Council continue to support him, despite his terrible loss to Mayor Beng Climaco in the 2019 local elections. Climaco won by a landslide against Lobregat.
Lobregat’s recent announcement has left Rep. Mannix Dalipe, who is reportedly aspiring to become the next mayor, without a viable line up except for his younger brother Councilman John Dalipe, who is believed running for a congressional seat in District 2. It also opens the door now for both sides to publicly criticize or challenge each other in an effort to bolster their own political interest.
The elder Dalipe, who served as vice mayor, was a staunch critic of Lobregat.
With the brothers Dalipe challenging Lobregat and his group, it would likely to break up the majority block which has opposed Climaco’s pro-poor projects, among them the Vida programs, which greatly helped the indigents and the elderly sector, including those with disabilities. Among them were Lobregat’s allies Litlit Macrohon, Gerky Valesco, Cary John Pioc, VP Elago, Khymer Olaso and Lilibeth Nuño.
Macrohon, Alavar, Guingona, Dalipe and Nuño are all fiercest critics of Climaco who opposed and disapproved the P1.368-billion Supplemental Budget requested by the local government in June.
Climaco said the bulk of the budget will be utilized for the Covid-19 response, such as the procurement of equipment, medicines and social assistance to be given to affected families. “Este para asegura el curada y comida que ay puede ayuda alivia vida na tiempo de pandemia,” the mayor said, referring to the Supplemental Budget.
The 54-year old mayor thanked the 13 council members, including political allies of Lobregat, for approving the budget. Climaco’s allies in the City Council - Bong Atilano, Jihan Edding, Kim Elago, Cesar Jimenez, El King Omaga, Pinpin Pareja, and Jimmy Villaflores voted for the approval of the budget; and so was Tungkuh Hanapi, the representative of the Indigenous People in the City Council.
“We thank the move of the majority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod members who went beyond party lines and treated the approval of the Supplemental Budget No.1 amounting to P1.368 Billion with a sense of urgency - this is a clear indication that in a period of financial challenges and public health crisis, we, as servants of the people, can unite over common goals and respond to a more genuine conscience call - to heal the sick, feed the hungry and promote the general health and welfare of all our people,” Climaco said.
“We thank our SP members for showing unity and a whole-of-society approach for our Covid-19 response and capacity management. With God’s grace, hay puede kita dale curada y comida para ayuda alivia el vida del diatun maga vivientes na este tiempo de pandemia. Muchas gracias,” she added.
Politicians running for the polls are set to file their certificate of candidacy in October and Climaco continues to enjoy the strong support of her constituents. (Zamboanga Post)
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